Railway car



1, w. E. WINE El AL. 2,197,444

RAILWAY CAR Filed July 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1940. w. E. WINE ET AL RAILWAY CAR Filed July 8. 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. E. WINE ET AL 2,197,444

RAILWAY EAR Filed July 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 will 16, W I

W. E. WINE El AL RAILWAY CAR Filed July 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIFLIIIIIIIIIIIVIII I I l I I I I ll ralllllll Ham M J Patented Apr. 16, 1940 cries 2,197,444 RAILWAY oAn William E. Wine, meal, Ohi and Cyrus Hankins, Washington, D. 0.

Application July 8, 1937, Serial No. 152,550

3 Claims.

Our invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to hopper cars used in the transportation of finely divided lading in bulk, such, for example, as cement.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide hopper cars with improved means at the outlet ends of the hoppers for controlling and directing the discharge of finely divided lading from the car.

A primary feature of the invention consists in providing a railway car having a hopper provided with downwardly converging floor sheets with means rigid with the lower end of the hopper having a portion disposed therein defining two lading discharge openings and also having portions defining an open-ended chute through which lading from both of the openings is adapted to pass for dischargeTmm the car, a pair ofhingedly mounted doors being provided for respectively controlling the passage of lading through the openings.

Another 'feature of the invention consists in providing the lower end of a hopper of a railway car with a unitary casting defining two A further feature of the invention consists in providing the outlet end of the hopper with means defining two lading discharge openings respectively disposed in downwardly diverging planes and having an open-ended chute through which lading from both of the openings is adapted to pass for discharge from the car,

mechanism being disposed within the chute for actuating doors for controlling the discharge of lading through the openings and the doors when in open position being adapted to house between them portions of the door actuating mechanism.

Other features of the invention, residing in advantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts, will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the discharge end of a hopper of a railway car embodying our invention. I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

-Figure 4 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 3 showing the doors in open position.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

' Figures 6, 7 and tare-perspective views illustrating parts of the mechanism for actuating the doors.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the type of railway hopper car to which our invention is particularly applicable.

Referring moreparticularly to the drawings, i designates the hoppers of the railway carwhich are customarily arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the car center sill 2. Each of the hoppers is formed by downwardly converging floor sheets 3; and inner and outer side sheets 4' and 5, respectively. The outer side sheets incline downwardly and inwardly at a substantial angle to. the vertical and they are preferably provided with inwardly extending flanges 6 whereby they may be conveniently secured to the floor sheets 3. The lower portions of the inner side sheets 4 incline inwardly slightly and they are secured to upturned flanges l with which the floor sheets are provided.

While the fioorsheets of each hopper terminate in spaced relation to each other in. substantially the same horizontal plane, the lower. portions of the inner and outer side sheets between the ends of the floor sheets are notched or cut away to receive a rigid assembly for controlling and directing the discharge of lading from the hopper. Instead of forming the assem-; bly as a unitary structure, it is preferably made in upper and lower sections 8 and 9, respectively, each of which may be conveniently formed as an integral casting.

The upper section 8 which is provided with preferably vertical inner and outer end walls HI and ii, respectively, of substantially triangular shape, has two openings i2 respectively disposed 'in downwardly diverging planes through which lading is adapted to discharge from the hopper. On each end of the section are flanges l3, arranged in the form of an inverted V, which are rigidly secured to the side sheets or" the hopper, and the lower portions of these flanges at opposite ends of the section are integrally connected by flanges M respectively secured to the floor sheets 3 of the hopper.

Integral with the outer wall Ii) and intervening between the flanges 13 secured to the outer side sheet of the'hopper and the adjacent edges I flanges I l of section 8 are side wall portions I9 of the lading discharge openings I2 are triangularly shaped plate portions I5 which inter-' sect at their upper ends and there form. a continuation of a member I 6 which extends transversely of the hopper above the openings. Member It may advantageously be of inverted V shape in cross section, having downwardly divergingportions Il which, at their outer ends, merge with the upper ends of plate portions I8 integral with the end wall I I and intervening between the latter and the adjacent side edges of the openings l2.

Depending from adjacent the lower ends of which, together with the end walls I0 and II form an open-ended chute through which lading from both of the openings I2 is adapted to pass for discharge from the ca1'..Wa1ls I9, as well as walls I9 and II, terminate in laterally projecting flanges 2!] to which corresponding flanges 2| at the top of section 9 of the assembly are rigidly secured. Section 9 forms an extension of the chute into which the lading from the openings I2 pass and it is formed with downwardly and in wardly inclined side and end walls 22 and 23, respectively, to provide a constricted opening 24 at its lower end through which lading discharges from the car. The lower end of the inner wall of section 9 and the lower end of one" of the side walls thereof are preferably formed with a groove or the like 25 for receiving the flanged upper end of a flexible boot or the like (not shown) into which it may be desirable to have the lading discharge.

Hingedly mounted on section 8 beneath member I6 thereof are a pair of doors 26 for controlling the passage of lading through openings I2. The doors preferably have a'common hinge axis and each is provided with a pair of hinge straps 21 having apertures for receiving hollow hinge pins 23. Each hinge pin is supported at one end in the adjacent end wall of section 8 and at the other end in 2. lug 29 which is formed integrally with and depends from member I6. To prevent the hinge pins from shifting longitudinally, one or'more members 30 may be inserted within each pin with its ends projecting beyond the latter so as to be bent or offset, as indicated at 3|, into overlapping engagement with portions of the adjacent end wall and lug 29.

Journaled in suitable bearings 32 in the end walls of the assembly is a rotatable shaft 33 for operating mechanism to actuate the doors. This mechanism includes a crank 34, one end of which is interposed between and pivotally connected to members which are mounted upon and rotatable with shaft 33. The pivotal connection between crank 34 and members 35 may be similar to the hinge mountings for the doors, having a tubular pin ,36 and bendable members 3'! inserted therein.

The opposite end of crank 34, which is preferably of greater width than the end thereof connect'ed to members 35, is pivotally connected to two pairs of links 38 which are respectively connected to the doors 2G. The ends of the links connected to the'crank are bifurcated and the bifurcated ends of corresponding links ofeach pair are arranged in interleaved relation and are provided with apertures for receiving a tubular pin or the like 39 by which all of the links are pivotally connected to the crank. Members 40, having ends which may be offset, are inserted within pin 39 to prevent it from shifting longitudinally.

Each pair of links is connected to its associated door by members 4| which are screw threaded into the ends of the links and are pivot ally connected to brackets 42 rigid with the outer face of the door. By having a threaded connection between the links and members II, simple and effective means is provided for varying the effective length of the links so that the mechanism may be easily adjusted to insure tight closure of the doors.

As clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, when the doors are in closed position, links 38 are disposed substantially horizontally and the pivotal connection between crank 34 and members 35 is disposed beneath shaft 33. To effect a release of the doors so as to enable them to move into open position, shaft 33 is rotated to cause the ends of the links connected to the crank to move upwardly. The various parts of the door actuating mechanism are so shaped that when the doors are open, as shown in Figure 4, they will occupy a relatively small space and, in order that the mechanism will not prevent the doors from assuming substantially vertical position when open, the doors are provided with inwardly offset portions 43 for accommodating, as well as housing, the mechanism.

The side and bottom marginal edges of the door are reversely curved, as indicated at 44, for

cooperating with flanges 45 bounding corresponding edges of the openings I2 to prevent the escape of finely divided lading. While only the inner portions of the reversely curved flanges 44 operate with the outer portions of the reversely curved flanges at the bottom of the door. Thus, at the bottom of the door where leakage of lading is most likely to occur, the outer as well as the inner portions of the reversely curved flange function to prevent the escape of lading. At the upper edge of each door where little, if any, lading is apt to escape, is an inwardly opening recessed portion 46 for receiving a rib or the like 41 formed on the bottom face of member I 6 adjacent the lading discharge opening.

While any suitable means may be employed for rotating shaft 33 in the desired direction, it is preferred to provide the shaft exteriorly of the outer end wall of the assembly with a rigid handle or extension 48. The inner or hub portion 49 of the handle may be advantageously provided with a lug 50 which is adapted to be engaged by a dog 5I for preventing accidental or unauthorized movement of shaft 33 in a direction to permit the doors to move open. Dog 5! is pivotally mounted upon a suitable support 52, the inner end of which passes through the front wall of an outwardly offset portion 53 of the outerend wall ID of section 8. Disposed above the dog and pivotally mounted upon a suitable support 54, also extending through the front wall of offset portion 53, is a cam 55 for looking the dog in operative position. A car seal for preventing tampering with the mechanism may be conveniently employed by providing the cam with a portion 56 having an aperture which is adapted to register with an aperture 5'l formed in a lug 58 projecting laterally from the upper portion of a cover plate 59 which may advantageously overlap the outer faces of the-cam and dog.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, in addition to other advantages, the invention provides a simple and rugged construction in whichlading passing through two door-controlled openings is caused to discharge from the car through a single outlet with which conventional means may be associated for conveying the lading to a desired location.

What we claim is:

l. A railway hopper car having a hopper provided with downwardly converging floor sheets and with side sheets extending longitudinally of the car, the lower portions of said side sheets being respectively provided withfnotches .of substantially triangular shape, a rigid unit disposed within said notches and having flanges respectively secured to the side sheets and floor sheets, said unit forming the outlet of hopper and including downwardly diverging portions definin two lading discharge openings. end walls rigidly connecting said downwardly diverging portions closing the notches in the side sheets, means extending below the lower edges of the floor sheets and, forming with the lower portions of said end walls an open ended chute through which lading from both of said openings is adapted to pass for discharge from the car, and a pair of doors mov able to open position under the influence of gravity hingedly mounted on said unit for respectively controlling the passage of lading through said opening.

2. A railway hopper car having a hopper provided with downwardly converging floor sheets and with side sheets extending longitudinally of the car, the lower portions of said side sheets being respectively provided with notches of substantially triangular shape, a unitary casting clis posed within. said notches and having flanges secured to the side sheets and floor sheets, said unit forming the outlet of the hopper and including downwardly diverging portions defining two lading discharge openings and end walls integrally connecting said downwardly diverging portions closing the notches in the side sheets. a pair of doors movable to open position under the influence of gravity hingedly mounted on said casting for respectively controlling the passage of lading through said opening, and means rigid with the lower end of said casting through which lading passing through said door controlled openings is adapted to discharge from the car.

3. .A railway hopper car having a hopper provided with downwardly converging floor sheets and with side sheets extending longitudinally of the car, the lower portions of said side sheets being respecti ely provided with notches of substantially trian ular shape, a rigid unit disposed within said notches having flanges respectively secured to the side sheets and floor sheets, said unit forming the outlet of the hopper and including downwardly diverging portions defining two lading discharge openings, end walls rigidly connecting said downwardly diverging portions closing the notches in the side sheets, and means having downwardly diverging portions extending transversely of the hopper above said openings rigidly connecting said end walls, the lower portion. of said unit being provided with an opening through which lading passing through each of said first named openings is adapted to discharge from the car. and doors movable to open position under the influence of gravity hingedly mounted on said unit for respectively controlling the passage of lading through said first named openings.

4. A railway hopper car having a hopper provided with downwardly converging floor sheets and with side sheets extending longitudinally of the car, the lower portions of said side sheets being respectively provided with notches of substantially triangular shape, a unitary casting disposed within said notches and having flanges secured to the side sheets and floor sheets, said casting forming the outlet of the hopper and including downwardly diverging portions clefining two lading discharge openings, end walls integrally connecting said downwardly diverging both of said openings is adapted to pass for dis-- charge from the car, a member having downwardly divergingportions extending transversely of the hopper above said openings and integrally connecting said end walls, and hinge lugs rigid with and depending from said member, and doors movable to open position under the influence of gravity hingedly connected to said lugs for respectively controlling the passage of lading through said openings.

5. A railway car having a hopper provided with side sheets and downwardly converging floor sheets, a rigid unit secured to the lower portions of said sheets and forming the outlet of the hop per, said unit having two lading discharge openings respectively disposed in downwardly diverging planes and being provided with a member extending transversely of the hopper above said openings and with. portions forming a chute through which lading from both of said openings is adapted to pass for discharge from the car, hinge lugs rigid with and depending from said member and a pair of doors hingedly connected to said lugs for controlling the passage of lading through said openings, said doors having a common hinge axis and being movable to open position under the influence of gravity.

6. A railway hopper car having a hopper pro vided with downwardly converging floor sheets and with side sheets extending longitudinally of the car, the lower portions of said side sheets being respectively provided with notches of substantially triangular shape, a rigid unit disposed within said notches and having flanges secured to the side sheets and floor sheets. said unit forming the outlet of the hopper and including downwardly diverging portions defining two lading discharge openings, end walls rigidly connecting said downwardly diverging portions closing the notches in the side sheets. and means extending below the lower edges of the floor sheets forming with the lower portions of end walls an open ended chute through which lading from both of said openings is adapted to pass for discharge from the car. doors movable to open position under the influence of gravity hingedly mounted on said unit for respectively controlling the discharge of lading through said openings, and mechanism carried solely by said unit and having. portions thereof disposed within the chute for moving the doors to closed position, said doors when in open position being disposed in back to back relation and being respectively formed so as to provide a space for housing said portions of the mechanism.

'7. A railway hopper car having a hopper provided with downwardly converging floor sheets and with side sheets extending longitudinally of the car, the lower portions of said side sheets being respectively pro-vided with notches of substantially triangular shape, a unitary casting disposed within said notches and having flanges secured to the side sheets and floor sheets, said unit having integrally connected end walls defining in part an open ended chute and being provided with two door controlled openings through which lading is adapted to pass into said chute for discharge from the car, doors movable to open position under the influence of gravity hingedly mounted on said casting for respectively controlling the passage of lading through said opening and mechanism mounted on said casting and having portions thereof disposed Within the chute for moving the doors to closed position, said mechanism including members respectively pivotally connected to the doors, said doors when in open position being adapted to be disposed in back to back relation and being respectively provided with inwardly ofiset portions affording a housing for receiving said members when the doors are open.

8. A railway car having a hopper provided with side sheets and downwardly converging floor sheets, a rigid unit secured to the lower portions of said 'sheets and forming the outlet of the hopper, said imit having two lading discharge openings respectively disposed in downwardly diverging planes and being provided with a member extending transversely of the hopper above said openings and also with portions forming an open-ended chute through which lading from both of said openings is adapted to pass for discharge from the car, a pair of doors movable to open position under the influence of gravity hingedly mounted on a common axis on said member for respectively controlling the passage of lading through said openings, and mechanism carried by said unit and having portions disposed within the chute for moving the doors to closed position, said doors when in open position being disposed in back to back relation and having their outer faces disposed adjacent each other and forming a space for housing said portions of the mechanism.

WILLIAM E. WINE. CYRUS HANKINS. 

